Reading 3 Leicester 1: Jimmy's a Royal master

I rate him as highly as anybody in the league, ­particularly on his day.

Jobi McAnuff on Jimmy Kebe

JIMMY Kebe will surely be playing in the Premier League next season after the twinkle-toed winger inspired Reading’s eighth straight victory.[>

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Kebe scored one and m ade the other two as the Royals climbed to fourth and all but ended Leicester’s play-off hopes.[>

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Brian McDermott’s boys are just three points off the automatic places and promotion looks more likely by the week with Kebe in this sort of form.[>

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Kebe should have had at least three more after running the Foxes defence ragged.[>

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Kebe scored after 19 minutes after Shane Long crossed for the Mali international to convert. [>

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Two minutes later it was two when Kebe fed Jobi McAnuff who twisted and turned before drilling home a low shot. [>

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Victory was sealed in the 67th minute when Kebe embarked on a wonder run from his own half and squared to Shane Long, whose effort was blocked before Noel Hunt lashed in the rebound.[>

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McAnuff said of Kebe: “I rate him as highly as anybody in the league, ­particularly on his day. [>

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“This year and the back end of last year his consistency has been as good as anyone. [>

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“He is a Premier League player, no doubt. If you put him in a very, very good team he wouldn’t look out of place and I’m sure he could do a lot of damage.” With the ­mesmeric Kebe and Long, Reading look ­Premier League class.[>

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But in the recent past star players like Kevin Doyle, Steve Sidwell and Nicky Shorey have gone on to bigger things and if Reading fail in their promotion mission, Kebe will surely be off.[>

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McAnuff added: “It’s the same every year with numerous players at this club. [>

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“It’s the reality of the Championship, normally if you don’t go up you have to make a couple of sacrifices. [>

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“I’m sure there will be clubs interested because he’s a top player but hopefully we’ll get promoted and then it’s something I’m sure we won’t have to worry about.”[>

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Andy King pulled one back from 35 yards with 11 minutes left but it was too little too late for the Foxes.[>

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Leicester are five points off the top six with four games to go and but manager Sven Goran Eriksson is not giving up on promotion.[>

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“It is very difficult for us now. But mathematically we still have a chance so we will keep fighting for it,” he said. [>